Ultimate Health Report

This super healthy banana bread recipe is so moist and sweet, everyone is always shocked to find out it’s actually good for you!

Healthy banana bread for breakfast or snack

The recipe can be oil free, egg free, and dairy free, with NO refined sugar.

To lower the oil without sacrificing moisture or taste, it packs a full one and a half cups of mashed banana into the loaf, which also sweetens the banana bread recipe without all that extra sugar and empty calories.

And though I’m normally not a fan of oil-free baking, this banana bread is definitely an exception. You can easily omit the vegetable or coconut oil entirely if you prefer, and it will still turn out amazingly soft and delicious!

While many traditional banana bread recipes call for at least a cup of refined sugar and half a cup of butter or more, this lightened-up healthy banana bread recipe cuts way back on the things you don’t want.

Instead, it replaces them with whole grains and good-for-you ingredients, adding extra potassium rich banana for natural sweetness.

You may also like: Vegan Lemon Bread

Simple whole grain banana bread

If you have overripe bananas sitting on the counter and no idea how to use them up, this healthy banana bread is the perfect solution.

The addition of yogurt to the recipe adds even more softness without weighing the bread down. And it’s sweetened with pure maple syrup instead of refined sugar.

Thanks to the extra banana, the bread needs just half a cup of sweetener for the entire recipe. This is around half of what is called for in popular banana bread recipes from Martha Stewart, Food Network, Rachael Ray, Betty Crocker, and others.

Banana loaf ingredients

The healthy banana bread calls for basic ingredients: flour, baking soda and baking powder, salt, cinnamon, plain or nondairy yogurt, pure vanilla extract, sweetener of choice, and of course the banana.

For the flour: You can use all purpose flour, white or whole grain spelt flour, or whole wheat pastry flour. Whole wheat flour yields a denser loaf than I personally like, but some readers still enjoy it that way. So it’s completely your choice.

To make wheat free or gluten free banana bread, the recipe works with oat flour or certified-gluten-free oat flour for an oatmeal banana bread.

Multiple readers have reported success with substituting gluten free all purpose flour as well. I haven’t personally tried it yet.

If you want a grain free version or low carb recipe that’s also naturally gluten free, make this delicious Almond Flour Banana Bread.

The sweetener: Try pure maple syrup, agave, or honey for the half cup of sweetener. The additional two tablespoons of sweetener can be stevia, sugar, erythritol, date sugar, coconut sugar, or any of the above liquid sweeteners.

For a version made with granulated sugar, try this Vegan Banana Bread.

Optional ingredients: The banana bread is easy to customize. Throw in half a cup of mini chocolate chips, raisins or another chopped dried fruit, shredded coconut, or crushed walnuts or pecans. I also love adding half a teaspoon of cinnamon.

It’s good with or without the chocolate chips added to the top, although my preference is probably easy to guess!

And my personal favorite way to eat this banana bread is topped with Coconut Butter or this homemade Nutella recipe.

It’s also still perfectly good plain if you want to skip the frosting altogether.

Can the healthy banana bread recipe be vegan?

As long as you use nondairy yogurt, the recipe is naturally vegan.

I often use my own vegan homemade Greek yogurt when I make this recipe, but it works fine with non-Greek plain yogurt as well.

Readers have successfully used coconutmilk yogurt, cashew yogurt, soy yogurt, and almondmilk yogurt. So feel free to use whatever type you wish.

You can even change up the flavor if you want. Try strawberry, peach, or even blueberry yogurt for a fun and subtle flavor twist.

Or if you don’t have yogurt or prefer not to use it, just increase the banana to two cups and omit the yogurt completely.

If you still have leftover bananas after making the bread, try out one of these other healthy Banana Recipes.

How to make banana bread

The banana bread is super simple to make, and leftovers can be sliced and frozen for an instant breakfast or snack any time you are craving banana bread.

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir well to evenly mix and break up any clumps of baking soda or salt.

Whisk the liquid ingredients together, pour them into the mixing bowl, and stir to form a banana bread batter.

Smooth into the prepared baking pan. Press a few chocolate chips on top if your heart desires, and place the pan on the oven’s center rack.

Bake for 40 minutes. After time has elapsed, keep the oven door closed and turn off the heat. Let the banana loaf sit in the closed oven for an additional ten minutes to continue cooking. Then remove from the oven.

The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out mostly clean. If yours is still undercooked, simply turn the oven back on and continue baking (checking every five minutes) until fluffy and golden.

Let it cool. The taste and texture are better the next day, so I like to loosely cover the banana bread and refrigerate overnight.

Refrigerate leftovers for three to four days, or slice and freeze leftover banana bread for a month or two.

Above, watch the step-by-step banana bread recipe video

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